Equal pay

Editor's message: Although there has been a decrease in the gender pay gap since the introduction of equal pay legislation in 1975, there is still a substantial gap between the pay of men and women four decades later.

The gender pay gap is a broad issue, and is not the same as equal pay. The gender pay gap covers the differences in the average earnings of men and women, whereas equal pay is about paying men and women the same for performing "equal work".

Under the Equality Act 2010, women and men who perform equal work have the right to claim equal pay with each other under their contract of employment. Conducting an equal pay audit is the best way for employers to find out if they are paying men and women the same for equal work.

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Latest items in Equal pay

In this week's podcast, we predict the key cases for 2017. We explain why employment status in the gig economy will be a big talking point, and flag up a major equal pay case against a private-sector employer.

So much has been written about why women earn less than men and miss out on key promotions. But, as we prepare for gender pay gap reporting, are we ignoring the real reasons for gender inequality at work, asks Catalyst Europe's Allyson Zimmermann?

In Asda Stores Ltd v Brierley and others [2016] IRLR 709 CA, the Court of Appeal held that, although employment tribunals have the power to grant an indefinite stay of proceedings, there was no requirement for a tribunal to do so merely because the respondent wanted to have equal pay claims against it heard in the High Court rather than the tribunal.

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